LX308A, First man on the moon, 1969

 

21 July 1969:

American Neil Armstrong (born 1930) has become the first man to walk on the Moon.

As he put his left foot down first Neil Armstrong declared: "That's one small step for man but one giant leap for mankind." He was joined by Aldrin and they unveiled a plaque bearing President Nixon's signature and an inscription reading: "Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind."

 

Date of issue: 21 July 1969

Design: Oscar Bonnevalle (1920-1993)

Engraving: Jean de Vos

Printing:

Size whole sheet: 95 x 110 mm.

Size engraving: 75 x 80 mm. (Without the printed text in the margin).

Circulation: 2,500? (See note below)

 

LX308A. Luxury sheet, 100F lilac-pink.

Imperforated and perforated sheet:

 

Notice that block 19 and the “luxury block” was printed on the same large sheet of paper (see image below), both are gummed. It is likely that these whole sheets consisted of 8 or 10 mini sheets, depending how large the uncut sheet was, and that only two were lilac-pink. It is advised to look at the block 19 and the proofs at this Website.

 

Part of a sheet before the final cut:

 

Original engraving signed by Jean de Vos (signed "J de Vos 69"):